"Arabian Nights" is the opening song from Aladdin, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman which was performed by the Peddler (singing voice by the late Bruce Adler). Howard Ashman and Alan Menken had written several reprises, but they were ultimately cut from the final film.
An alternate version of the song utilizing lyrics from the original demo was later featured in The Return of Jafar, performed by Brian Hannan. This version was also used as the main titles theme for the Aladdin television series.
Aladdin and the King of Thieves features a reprise performed by Bruce Adler as the Peddler, which was originally recorded for the first film.
Lyrics
1992 version
Oh, I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where it's flat and immense
and the heat is intense
It's barbaric, but hey, it's home
When the wind's from the east
And the sun's from the west
And the sand in the glass is right
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
to another Arabian night
Arabian Nights like Arabian days
More often than not
are hotter than hot
in a lot of good ways
Arabian Nights 'neath Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
could fall and fall hard
out there on the dunes
The Return of Jafar/TV series version
Follow me to a place where incredible feats are routine every hour or so
Where enchantment runs rampant
Yes, wild in the streets
Open Sesame, here we go!
Arabian Nights
like Arabian Days
They tease and excite
Take off and take flight
They shock and amaze
Arabian Nights
Like Arabian Days
More often than not
are hotter than hot
in a lot of good ways
Pack your shield, pack your sword
You won't ever get bored
Though get beaten or gored, you might
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
to another Arabian Night
Arabian Night!
King of Thieves version
So it goes, short and sweet
They were wed down the street
May their marriage be truly blessed
Happy end to the tale
And tomorrow's a sale
So I'd better go home and rest
Here's a kiss and a hug
Sure you don't need a rug?
I assure the price is right
Well, salaam, worthy friend
Come back soon, that's the end
Till another Arabian night
Broadway version
Genie
(spoken) Salam and good evening to you all dear friends
Welcome to the fabled city of Agrabah
City of flying carpets, soaring heroes, famous love
ballads, and more glitz and glamour than any other
fictional city in the world!
(sung) Oh, I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where it's flat and immense
and the heat is intense
It's barbaric, but hey, it's home
When the wind's from the east
and the sun's from the west
and the sand in the glass is right
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
to another Arabian night
(spoken) And of course you know what Agrabah is famous for
This magical lamp
Don't be fooled by it's common place appearance
Like so many things it's not what on the outside, but what's on the inside that counts,
This lamp put Agrabah on the map
You've never been?
We can fix that!
(sung) Follow me to a place
where incredible feats
are routine every hour or so
Where enchantment runs rampant
Runs wild in the streets
Open Sesame, here we go!
See the dervishes dance
in ridiculous pants
And romance to your hearts delight
Genie and Company
Come on down (Come on in)
Let the magic begin
It's another Arabian Nights
Arabian Nights, like Arabian days
More often than not
are hotter than hot
in a lot of good ways
Arabian Nights, 'neath Arabian moons
a fool off his guard
could fall and fall hard
out there on the dunes
Soloist
In that magical land
that mystical place
there's a genie inside of every door
Men
He'll do all of your bidding
Your wishes command
Genie
It's demeaning but hey, there you are!
Ladies
Unbelievable, yes
And an ethical mess
Ensemble
None the less
No ones very contrite
You come here and you come to a land where any mountain can move
A land of high intrigue
with tricky logistics
by prophets and mystics
Genie
And I've got statistics that prove
All
Arabian nights
Arabian nights
(dance break)
Genie
(spoken) Agrabah, Come for the hummus, stay for the floor show
Even the poor people look fabulous
And everyone here has a minor in dance
And now for the softer side of Agrabah!
(harem dance)
And of course you must watch your step here in Agrabah
For danger lurks around every corner
It's a city where a penniless nobody
Can turn out to be a noble somebody
Where a Princess would give up her crown for true love
But her father is a stickler for the old ways
And our heroes pals are as thick as thieves
Adorable... But thieves
And oh did I mention,
Everybody sings!
Full Company
Arabian Nights like Arabian days
More often than not
are hotter than hot
in a lot of good ways
Arabian Nights 'neath Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
Could fall and fall hard
Out there on the dunes
Arabian Nights
Arabian Nights
Arabian Nights
Arabian Nights!
2019 version
Genie
Oh, imagine a land, it's a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where you wander among
Every culture and tongue
It's chaotic, but hey, it's home
When the wind's from the east
And the sun's from the west
And the sand in the glass is right
Come on down, stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
To another Arabian night
As you wind through the streets at the fabled bazaars
With the cardamom-cluttered stalls
You can smell every spice
While you haggle the price
Of the silks and the satin shawls
Oh, the music that plays
As you move through a maze
In the haze of your pure delight
You are caught in a dance
You are lost in the trance
Of another Arabian night
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In a lot of good ways
Arabian nights
Like Arabian dreams
This mystical land
Of magic and sand
Is more than it seems
There's a road that may lead you
To good or to greed through
The power your wishing commands
Let the darkness unfold
Or find fortunes untold
Well, your destiny lies in your hands
Cave of Wonders
(spoken) Only one may enter here.
One whose worth lies far within.
A diamond in the rough.
Genie
Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
They seem to excite
Take off and take flight
To shock and amaze
Arabian nights
'Neath Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
Could fall and fall hard
Out there on the dunes
Deleted Reprises
Initially, a longer composition, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken 1990 score treatment incorporated several reprises sung by The Genie of the Ring, who served as the story's narrator in the original treatment (although under the guise of the Peddler). The first reprise introduces The Wicked Wazir (later to be named Jafar) as the story's main antagonist. The second is sung as Wazir takes Aladdin to The Cave of Wonders posing as his uncle. The third plays as someone - presumably Aladdin - is locked in the dungeon, awaiting death. For the fourth and final reprise, The Genie of the Ring bids the audience farewell; this reprise was sung by The Peddler at the end of King of Thieves.